Center for Excellence for Watershed Management FY 12

The purpose of this Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is for the development of a Center for Excellence for Watershed Management to serve as a clearinghouse for watershed management-related technical data, information, and support, The contract will start April 1, 2011 and run to June 30, 2012, The lead agency for this project is the KWRRl. The KWRRl's goal for this project is to develop a Center for Excellence for Watershed Management. The KWRRl shall conduct this plan of work as outlined in their EPA approved Project Application, incorporated into this Agreement by reference, which is summarized as follows: The USEP A has established several requirements in order to be considered as a possible Center of Excellence for Watershed Management. These include: Technical expertise to identify and address the needs of local watershed stakeholders: The KWRRl has an established track record of meeting this requirement. Involvement of students, staff, and faculty applying research and conducting activities that solve issues at the watershed scale: The KWRRl has an established track record of meeting this reqUirement both through its USGS 1 04(b) program and through its water resources research program. Capabmty to involve the full suite of college 01' university disciplines needed for all aspects of watershed management: The KWRRlwas established in 1964 specifically with this goal in mind. The KWRRl has an established track record ofpartneringwith all of the regional universities within the state as well as involving all scientific disciplines that relate to water resources and watershed management (e.g. engineering, biology, chemistlY, physics, mathematics, sociology, economics, law, etc.). Financidl ability to become self-sustaining after a period oftime: The KWRRlwas first established in 1964 and has been in continuous operation since that time. The KWRRI has a base budget of nearly $300,000 and over the lastfive years has had an additional research budget in excess of$l million. The KWRRI currently employs six full time stqjJ and h!'o part time stqff. Capability to deliver and account for results related to watershed improvement and sustainability: The KWRRl has been actively engaged in such activities over the last ten years, both through local and regional assessment activities. Willing6ess to partner with other institutions, especially those in the Center of Excellence Network: The KWRRl has an established track record of partnering with evelY regional university in the state of Kentucky, as well as a track record of working with other universities and national research consortium (e.g. the National Institutes of Water Resources).